JP3740461B2 - A computer system that cleans the phone list by centralized automatic dialing. - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer and telephone integration technology (CTI: Computer Telephony Integration), and more particularly to switch overload avoidance technology in a centralized automatic dialing apparatus.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the proliferation of mobile phones with e-mail functions, Internet connection functions, and browser functions, CTI technology has been utilized in various application situations, and marketing methods and business models that were previously unthinkable have been created one after another. Yes. Among them, CTI operation which is harmful to the telephone system which is a public organ of society has appeared. A typical example is “one-cut” that became a social problem in Japan in the summer of 2002. This is because, by using a computer connected to the telephone network and continuously executing a process of automatically calling one after another according to a list of telephone numbers, excessive traffic is generated in the exchange, resulting in congestion. The problem is that even if someone tries to make a phone call, they are not connected.
[0003]
Here, the operation method of making automatic calls to the telephone network one after another by the computer is not to be used as an abuse of the telephone network itself. It has the potential to play a very useful social and business role in applications.
For example, according to the invention of the “telephone number search method and device and telephone number list cleaning method (Japanese Patent No. 3227398)” previously created by the applicants, the computer automatically makes calls to the telephone network one after another. By using this means, it is possible to list the telephone numbers actually used in a certain area.
[0004]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The computer system according to the present invention is basically specified by the following items (1) to (8).
(1) A computer system comprising ISDN communication means, storage means, and control means, and cleaning a telephone number list by centralized automatic dialing.
(2) The ISDN communication means shall be connected to ISDN to enable communication as a calling terminal.
(3) The storage means stores a telephone number list and cleaning information.
(4) The control means performs call processing, response classification processing, and call suppression processing.
(5) In the calling process, the ISDN communication means makes a call one after another according to the telephone number list in the storage means.
(6) In response classification processing, ISDN communication means sequentially receives responses from ISDN for each call made by call processing, performs a disconnection recovery sequence, and based on the contents of each response, the validity of the telephone number that made the call・ Distinguish invalid / changed data and record the sorting result as cleaning information in storage
(7) In the call suppression process, when the first specific response from the ISDN is detected in the response classification process, this is recorded in the detection history, and the frequency of the call by the call process based on the detection history To reduce in stages
(8) The first specific response is at least one message selected from a disconnect message, a release message, and a release completion message, and at least one selected from among 34, 41, and 44 as a reason display Must be a message with one reason number
In the computer system having the above configuration requirements (1) to (8), it is desirable that the call suppression processing outputs an output indicating the call frequency reduction by the output means when the call frequency is reduced.
[0005]
More preferably, the computer system according to the present invention has a configuration specified by the following items (11) to (13).
(11) The control means further performs call cancellation processing.
(12) Call stop processing is to stop the call processing when the second specific response from ISDN is detected in the response classification processing.
(13) The second specific response is at least one message selected from a disconnect message, a release message, and a release completion message, and a message with at least one reason number 38 or 42 as a reason display. Be
In the computer system having these configuration requirements (11) to (13), it is more desirable that the call canceling process causes the output means to output the call canceling signal when the calling process is stopped.
[0006]
【Example】
An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the telephone number search system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3227398 will be described in detail below.
=== Basics of a system that implements a telephone number search method ===
FIG. 1 shows an example of a system for implementing the telephone number search method of the present invention (search apparatus of the present invention). Here, a general personal computer 1 is used as an ISDN terminal. The personal computer 1 includes a CPU 2, a memory 3, a hard disk device 4, a floppy disk device 5, a display device 6, a keyboard 7, an ISDN communication board 8, and the like. The personal computer 1 is connected to the ISDN via an ISDN communication board 8 and a line connection unit (DSU) 10. As is well known, ISDN and the telephone network are interconnected together.
[0007]
For example, the personal computer 1 is installed in the Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, and Iwate prefecture areas, and all telephone numbers that are actually used in the entire area are checked. As is well known, each subscriber's telephone number is a combination of an area code, a local area code, and a subscriber number, with the last four digits being the subscriber number. Of course, the numbers used as the area code and the city code are publicly available information.
[0008]
In the Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, and Iwate prefecture areas, 011/0123/01235/01237/01242/0125/01026/01266/0133/0134/0135/01136/0138/01397/0142/0143/0144 / 01462/0152/01527/0153/01532/01537/0154/0155/0157/0162/016432/0166/0167/0172/0173/0175/0176/0177/0178/0182/0183/0184/0185/0186/0187 / There are 52 area codes of 0188/0191/0192/0193/0194/0195/0196/0197/0198 (as of December 1996). Each of these area stations has a number of local area codes according to the scale. For example, within the Aomori station (0177), 22/23/26/28/29/31/32 / 34-39 / 41-44 / 52/54 / 61-66 / 73-77 / 81/82/87 / There are 35 local area codes of 88/99 (as of December 1996). The subscriber number is undisclosed information, but it is a 4-digit number, and there may be 10,000 numbers from 0000 to 9999. There are 35 local numbers in the Aomori station (No. 0177), so there may be 35 x 10,000 = 350,000 phone numbers, some of which are actually assigned to subscribers. A valid phone number. According to the method of the present invention, for example, all and 350,000 telephone numbers that may exist in the Aomori station of No. 0177 are examined and which are valid (invalid), and the result is used as a survey list.
[0009]
The personal computer 1 of the embodiment is in charge of surveys in the Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, and Iwate prefecture areas. There are 52 area codes in the area, and a number of city codes are assigned to each area. All the area codes and city area numbers included in these areas to be surveyed are obtained in advance according to the published information, and these station numbers are tabulated as the station numbers to be surveyed (in an appropriate storage means of the personal computer 1). Store it). A combination of all of the survey target station numbers and all the four-digit numbers (10,000) that may become subscriber numbers is a survey target telephone number.
[0010]
When executing a survey, a certain station number (area code + local station number) is picked up in a predetermined order from the survey target station number table, and the station number and a 4-digit number (1 from 0000 to 9999) are picked up. For all combinations of (numbers), check if it is a valid phone number as follows: Note that it is very easy to generate 10,000 numbers from 0000 to 9999 in order by the counter function.
[0011]
=== Introduction part of the investigation process ===
A schematic procedure of the telephone number investigation process executed by the personal computer 1 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The personal computer 1 recognizes the survey target station number table stored in an appropriate storage means, picks up the station number one by one from the table in a predetermined order, and stores 10,000 station numbers from 0000 to 9999 in that station number. The telephone numbers obtained by combining the numbers in order are generated one by one in order, and execution of a call setting sequence for calling the one telephone number is started (step 100 → 200). In the call setting sequence, first, a “call setting” message is created, in which the telephone number generated as a check target is a called number and non-restricted digital information is specified as a transmission capability, and is sent to the network (step 201). This call setup sequence 200 proceeds according to a circuit-switched call control procedure specified in detail in ITU-T Recommendation Q.931 (or TTC Standard JT-Q931). Since the control procedure of this circuit-switched call is explained in detail in various documents, it is not explained in detail in this specification, but a typical sequence proceeds as follows.
[0012]
The network that has received the “call setting” message from the calling terminal sends a “call setting acceptance” message informing the B channel to be used to the calling terminal and also sends a “call setting” message to the receiving terminal. As a result, various performances required for the receiving terminal are specified, and this is checked on the receiving terminal side, and the receiving terminal confirming the conformity returns a “calling” message to the network (the receiving terminal is ringing). This “call” message is sent from the network to the originating terminal. When a response such as off-hook is made at the receiving terminal, a “response” message is sent from the receiving terminal to the network → the calling terminal, and a “response confirmation” message is sent from the calling terminal to the network and from the network to the receiving terminal. It is done. Thus, the “call setting” message is accepted and the line is connected.
[0013]
In addition, a call requested by the calling terminal may not be accepted for various reasons. In that case, the network sends a “disconnect” message to the originating terminal and executes a disconnection recovery sequence. At this time, the reason why the call cannot be accepted is notified in the form of a reason number in the information item reason display item attached to the “disconnect” message sent from the network to the calling terminal.
[0014]
==== Display reason of “Disconnect” message ====
In the ITU-T recommendation Q.931, the type and number of the reason display attached to the “disconnect” message are defined as follows.
1． Normal class
《Reason number 1 Missing number》
This reason display indicates that the number is valid in the format but cannot be received at the other party requested by the calling user because the number is currently missing.
《Reason number 2 No route to designated relay network》
This reason indication indicates that the device that sent the reason indication has received a request to route the call through a special relay network that cannot be recognized. This reason indication transmission source device is not a relay network, or even if it exists, it is a special relay network that does not service the reason indication transmission destination device. Therefore, the relay network is not recognized.
<Reason number 3 No route to opponent>
The reason display indicates that the network to which the call is routed cannot deliver the call to the called user because it does not receive the incoming call request.
<Reason number 6 Channel unavailable>
This reason display indicates that the channel selected as a result of channel selection is not available to the transmitting terminal.
<< Reason number 7: Call to a channel for which a call has already been set >>
This reason display indicates that the user has an incoming call, and the incoming call is connected to a channel that the user has already set up as a similar call (for example, an X.25 virtual call in packet mode).
<Reason number 16 Normal disconnection>
The reason display indicates that the call is disconnected when one of the users related to the call requests call disconnection recovery. Under normal conditions, this reason indication is not generated from the network.
《Reason number 17 arrival user busy》
This reason indication indicates that the called user cannot accept another call. In this case, the user equipment needs to maintain communication consistency for incoming calls.
《Reason number 18 No arrival user response》
This reason display is a message indicating whether the other user is “calling” or “answering” within the allotted time (timer T303 or T310 defined in this specification) defined for the call setup message. Used when not returning.
《Reason number 19: Calling the destination user / No response》
This reason display is used when there is a call notification but there is no response notification within a specified time. This reason display is not necessarily caused by the JT-Q931 procedure, but may be caused by a timer in the network.
《Reason number 20 No subscribers》
This reason indication indicates that the mobile station is logged off (by a signaling procedure through the radio bus) or that radio communication cannot be made with the destination mobile station (eg, failure, out of range or power off).
<Reason number 21 communication rejection>
This reason display is used to indicate that the device that transmitted this reason display is neither busy nor inconsistent and can accept calls, but does not accept calls.
<< Reason number 22: Change of the other party's subscriber number >>
This reason display is to notify the calling user when the incoming call number indicated by the calling user is no longer assigned. At this time, the new incoming number is included in the diagnostic information field.
<< Reason number 26: Disconnection recovery of user not selected >>
This reason display indicates that the user has not received the incoming call.
<< Reason number 27: The other terminal is malfunctioning >>
This reason display indicates that the incoming call to the partner user requested by the calling user could not be made because the incoming side interface was not functionally normal. This “functionally abnormal” means that the signal message does not reach the other user. For example, there is a failure in the physical layer or data link layer of the counterpart user interface, or when the user device is offline.
<< Reason number 28 Invalid number format (incomplete number) >>
This reason display indicates that the incoming call cannot be made to the other user because the incoming call number has an invalid format or is incomplete.
《Reason number 29 Facility rejection》
This reason display is returned when the facility requested by the user cannot be provided on the network.
《Reason to reason number 30 status inquiry》
This reason display is included in the “state display” message when the reason for generating the “state display” message is that the “state inquiry” message is received before the message is generated.
<Reason number 31 Other normal class>
This reason display is only used to report a normal status if it cannot be expressed for other reasons in the normal class.
[0015]
2. Resource unavailable class
<Reason number 34: No available line / channel>
This reason indication indicates that there is currently no suitable line / channel available to handle the call.
《Reason number 38 network failure》
This reason display indicates that the network is not functionally normal and that the condition is likely to last for a relatively long time. For example, it is a case where it is unlikely that the call will be accepted even if it is immediately re-called.
<Reason number 41 Temporary failure>
This reason indication indicates that the network is not functionally normal and that the condition is unlikely to continue for a long time. For example, when the user can request a re-call almost immediately.
<Reason number 42: Switch congestion>
This reason display is used to indicate that the switching device that has generated this reason is congested with high traffic.
[Reason number 43 Access information discarded]
This reason display indicates that the network has not been able to deliver the requested access information (user / user information, lower layer consistency, higher layer consistency or subaddress indicated in the detailed information) to the other user. Special types of discarded access information may be included in the diagnostic information.
<< Reason number 44 Request line / channel unavailable >>
This reason display is returned when the line or channel notified by the requesting terminal cannot be provided by the partner interface.
[Reason number 47 Other resource unavailable class]
This reason indication is used to report as a network congestion event only when no other reasoning in the network congestion class is applicable.
[0016]
3. Service unavailable class
[Reason number 49 QOS unavailable]
This reason indication is used to report that the requested QOS (as defined in Recommendation X.213) is not provided (eg, if no throughput or propagation delay is provided).
《Reason number 50 Request facility not contracted》
This reason indication indicates that the requested supplementary service is not provided by the rope because the user has not completed the necessary administrative procedures for the network providing the facility.
《Reason No. 57 Disallow transmission ability》
This reason display indicates that the user has requested a transmission capability that is the transmission capability realized by the device that generated the reason display but is not permitted to the user.
《Reason number 58 Currently unavailable transmission ability》
This reason display indicates that the user requested a transmission capability that is the transmission capability realized by the device that generated the reason display, but is currently unavailable.
<Reason number 63 Other service or optional unavailable class>
This reason display is used to report a service unavailability event only when other reason indications in the service unavailability class are not applicable.
[0017]
4). Service not provided class
《Reason number 65 Unprovided transmission capability designation》
This reason indication indicates that the device that sent the reason indication does not support the requested transmission capability.
<< Reason number 66: Unprovided channel type designation >>
This reason indication indicates that the device that sent the reason indication does not support the requested channel type.
《Reason number 69 Unprovided facility request》
The reason display indicates that the device that transmitted the reason display does not provide the requested supplementary service.
<< Reason number 70: Restricted digital information transmission ability >>
This reason indication indicates that when a device requests unrestricted digital information transmission capability, the device that transmits this reason indication supports only limited digital information transmission capability among the requested transmission capabilities.
《Reason number 79 Other service or optional non-provided class》
This reason indication is used to report service not provided only when other reasons for service not available apply.
[0018]
5. Invalid message class
<Reason number 81 Invalid call number used>
This reason display indicates that the device having transmitted the reason display has received a message with a call number different from that currently used between the user and the network interface.
<< Reason number 82 Invalid channel number used >>
This reason display indicates that the device that transmitted the reason display has received a request to use a channel number that is not activated. For example, the user apparatus or network attempts to use channel numbers 13 to 23 even though the user has subscribed to channels 1 to 12.
<Reason number 83 Specified suspended call identification number unused>
This reason indication indicates that a call with a call identification number different from the call identification number used for the interrupted call has been attempted.
《Reason number 84 interrupted call identification number in use》
This indication indicates that the network has received a call suspend request, but the suspend request is already in use as a suspend call identifier in the interface area where the call may be resumed (if nothing is done). Included).
<Reason number 85: No interrupted call>
The reason display indicates that the network has received a call resume request. However, the call identification contained in the call resumption request indicates that it is not currently used for a suspended call in the interface area where call resumption may occur.
<< Reason number 86 Designated interrupted call disconnection restored >>
The reason indication is that the network has received a resume request, but this resume request includes the call identification once reported as a suspended call, and the suspended call has already been restored (due to remote user disconnection or timeout). Indicates that
<< Reason number 87 User is not a CUG member >>
See additional service specifications
《Reason number 88 Terminal attribute mismatch》
This reason indication indicates that the device that sent the reason indication has received a call setup request with lower layer consistency, higher layer consistency, or other consistency attributes (eg data rate) that cannot be met. .
<< Reason number 91 Invalid relay network selection >>
This reason indication indicates that the relay network texture has been received but is in an incorrect format as defined elsewhere.
<< Reason number 95 Other invalid message class >>
This reason indication is used to report an invalid message class event only when other reasons for the invalid message class are not applicable.
[0019]
6). Procedure error (example: unrecognized message) class
[Reason number 96, lack of required information elements]
This reason display indicates that the information element (essential information element) that must be present in the message was insufficient when the device that transmitted the reason display received the message.
[Reason number 97 Message type undefined or not provided]
This reason indication indicates that the device that sent the reason indication has received an undefined message in the device or a message having an unrecognizable message type that is defined but not provided.
<< Reason number 98 Call status and message mismatch or message type undefined >>
This reason indication is that the device that sent this reason indication has received a “status indication” indicating that the message received during the particular call state in the process is not an acceptable message or an inconsistent call state. Indicates.
<< Reason number 99 Information element undefined >>
This reason display is used when a message including an information element that is not defined or is not provided even though the information element identifier of the device that transmitted the reason display is undefined. Note that the information element is limited to the case where the device sending this reason is not necessary for processing the message.
<< Reason number 100 Information element contents invalid >>
This reason indication indicates that an information element is received which is an information element provided by the device that sent the reason indication but is not provided by one or more fields of the information element.
<< Reason number 101 Call state and message mismatch >>
This reason display is used when the received message does not match the call state.
<Reason number 102 Recovery by expiration of timer>
This reason display indicates that the procedure is started by the expiration of the timer according to the error processing procedure of this layer 3 specification.
<Reason number 111 Other procedure error class>
This reason indication is used to report a procedure error event only when other reasons for the procedure error class are not applicable.
[0020]
7). Into Tower Kinder Class
<< Reason number 127 Other interworking classes >>
This reason display indicates that interworking has occurred in the network where there is no reason display for operation. Therefore, the exact reason indication for the message to be sent cannot be confirmed.
[0021]
==== Flow of investigation processing control ====
In the telephone number checking process according to the present invention, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, in the call setting sequence 200, a call of the transmitted “call setting” message is accepted and “call” message or “response” is received from the network. ”Message is transferred to step 301 → 302 → 303 from step 202 or step 203, a“ disconnect ”message is immediately sent to the network to execute the disconnection recovery sequence, and the“ call ” The telephone number of the “set” message is determined to be a valid number and entered in the valid list. This completes the investigation process for this telephone number.
[0022]
Also, in the call setting sequence 200, when a “disconnect” message is transferred from the network without receiving a call of the transmitted “call setting” message, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. → Exit from the process of 402, immediately execute the disconnection recovery sequence, pick up the reason display of the information element attached to the “disconnect” message from the network, and according to the contents of the reason display, the “call setting” Judgment such as validity / invalidity and hold of the telephone number of the message is made.
[0023]
(A) Valid number
The reason displayed in step 402 is
<Reason number 3 No route to opponent>
<< Reason number 7: Call to a channel for which a call has already been set >>
<Reason number 16 Normal disconnection>
《Reason number 17 arrival user busy》
《Reason number 18 No arrival user response》
《Reason number 19: Calling the destination user / No response》
《Reason number 20 No subscribers》
<Reason number 21 communication rejection>
<< Reason number 27: The other terminal is malfunctioning >>
[Reason number 49 QOS unavailable]
《Reason number 50 Request facility not contracted》
《Reason No. 57 Disallow transmission ability》
《Reason number 58 Currently unavailable transmission ability》
<Reason number 63 Other service or optional unavailable class>
《Reason number 65 Unprovided transmission capability designation》
<< Reason number 66: Unprovided channel type designation >>
《Reason number 69 Unprovided facility request》
<< Reason number 70: Restricted digital information transmission ability >>
《Reason number 79 Other service or optional non-provided class》
《Reason number 88 Terminal attribute mismatch》
If it is any of the above, the telephone number of the “call setting” message is recognized as a valid number, and the telephone number is entered in the valid list (steps 403 → 404).
[0024]
(B) Number change
If the reason displayed in step 402 is << reason number 22 partner number change >>, a new telephone number entered in the diagnostic information field of the reason is picked up, and the "call setting" message The new telephone number picked up by the telephone number is compared with the calling telephone number and entered in the change number investigation list (steps 403 → 405 → 406).
[0025]
(C) Invalid number
The reason displayed in step 402 is
《Reason number 1 Missing number》
《Reason number 2 No route to designated relay network》
<Reason number 6 Channel unavailable>
If it is any of the above, the telephone number of the “call setting” message is recognized as an invalid number, and the telephone number is entered in the invalid list (steps 403 → 405 → 407 → 408).
[0026]
=== Switch overload avoidance processing ===
(D) Call suspension
The reason displayed in step 402 is
If it is << reason number 34: no available line / channel >>, the process proceeds from step 600 to step 601, where the call is suspended for 10 minutes, and the call is resumed after 10 minutes.
[0027]
(E) Call stop alarm
The reason displayed in step 402 is
If it is << reason number 42 exchange congestion >>, the process proceeds from step 602 to 603, the call is stopped, and an alarm process for notifying the attendant that the exchange congestion has occurred is executed.
[0028]
(F) Judgment pending
If the reason display picked up in step 402 is not any of the reason numbers examined in steps 403, 405, and 407, the telephone number of the “call setting” message is determined as neither a valid number nor an invalid number. Fill in the hold list (steps 403 → 405 → 407 → 409).
[0029]
As described above, if the investigation process is completed for one phone number, the process proceeds to step 501 to check whether the process is completed for all the telephone numbers to be investigated. Returning to step 100, the next telephone number is generated, and the same processing as described above is performed for the telephone number. If all the processes have been completed, the process proceeds to step 502, and the survey list is output in a predetermined format.
[0030]
==== Actual operation status ====
All area codes and local area numbers included in the area to be surveyed are acquired in advance according to the published information, and those station numbers are tabulated as the survey target station numbers. A survey target telephone number is a combination of all of the survey target station numbers and four-digit numbers that may be subscriber numbers. Although it depends on the size of the city, it is common that about half of the 10,000 surveyed telephone numbers having one station number are unused invalid numbers. Most telephone numbers are analog telephone network subscriber numbers, and ISDN (INS64) subscriber numbers have been increasing little by little. When a call is made to the current telephone network by the above-described investigation process, the following response is made between the personal computer 1 and the ISDN exchange (network).
[0031]
(A) When the telephone number that is called is a valid subscriber number of the analog telephone network
Usually this number accounts for nearly half of the total. Since the device of the present invention makes a call by designating unrestricted digital information as a transmission capability in the “call setting” message, the network returns a “disconnect” message with “reason number 3 no route to the other party”. Come. Therefore, the personal computer 1 enters the telephone number in the valid list. What should be noted here is that, in making this investigation and determination, no call is made to the investigation target telephone. In other words, when viewed from the other party being investigated, there is no hassle of being forced to answer a useless phone.
[0032]
(B) If the phone number that was called has been changed
Regardless of whether it is an analog telephone network or ISDN subscriber number, the network returns a “disconnect” message with << reason number 22 partner number changed >>. In response to this, the personal computer 1 picks up a new telephone number entered in the diagnostic information field of the reason display, and enters the new number against the calling number in the change number investigation list.
[0033]
(C) When the telephone number that was called is an unused number
This number is often close to half of the total. Regardless of whether it is an analog telephone network or ISDN subscriber number, the network returns a "disconnect" message with << reason number 1 missing >>. In response to this, the personal computer 1 enters the telephone number in the invalid list.
[0034]
(D) If the telephone number that was called is a valid ISDN subscriber number
In this case, the exchange changes depending on the situation of the counterpart facility. When a call is made at the receiving terminal (partner) by the “calling” message from the personal computer 1 and the other party answers the call, the process proceeds to step 301 in the flowchart of FIG. Start the disconnection recovery sequence from the side and enter the phone number in the valid list. Even if a “disconnect” message is returned from the network, the reason number is # 7, # 16, # 17, # 18, # 19, # 20, # 21, # 27 as described above. , # 49, # 50, # 57, # 58, # 63, # 65, # 66, # 70, # 79, # 88, the phone number is entered in the valid list, and the reason number is If it is # 2 or # 6, the phone number is entered in the invalid list, and if it is any other reason number, it is entered in the hold list.
[0035]
Note that it may be considered that the explanation in the embodiment is not the best for assigning to each classification of “valid”, “invalid”, and “hold” for each reason number. More detailed examination of ISDN subscriber usage and network response to it, and it is more appropriate to categorize as "valid" rather than "pending", or to classify as "invalid" May be appropriate. The present invention does not hinder such elastic operation.
[0036]
(E) Network equipment temporarily overloaded
As a process characteristic of the present invention, when the network facility is temporarily free, it is determined that the phenomenon is a sign of overload of the network facility, and the investigation process is temporarily suspended (call suppression process). A typical reason for indicating a temporary overload state of the network equipment is << reason number 34 usable line / no channel >>. When the “disconnect” message including the reason display is returned, the investigation process is temporarily stopped, and the investigation process is resumed after a predetermined time (in this example, 10 minutes).
At this time, it is convenient to inform the staff of the state as illustrated in FIG.
[0037]
(F) When overload of network equipment is serious
If the overload of the network equipment falls into a more serious state and the state is not temporary, the investigation process is stopped. A typical reason display indicating that a serious failure has occurred in the network equipment is "reason number 42 switch congestion". When the “disconnect” message including the reason display is returned, the investigation process is stopped, and an alarm or an alarm sound is displayed on the display device 6 of the investigation device as illustrated in FIG. Inform the staff of the situation and leave the decision afterwards.
[0038]
In addition to the reason display described above, a new reason number or another reason display may be returned due to a change or addition of the network specifications. In that case, it is necessary to review the new classification and operation according to the specifications. The present invention does not prevent such a flexible operation.
[0039]
=== How to conduct a telephone number survey in time and region ===
Up to this point, he explained that a single personal computer 1 would conduct surveys in the Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, and Iwate areas. Similarly, the nationwide telephone network was divided into several regions, and the same telephone number survey PCs were connected to ISDN in each region, and the nationwide telephone number survey was distributed to multiple regions. Run on multiple computers. Then, by gathering the above-mentioned survey lists in each area in charge through communication or the like, a nationwide wide-area survey list can be created. In this way, compared with the case where the above-mentioned investigation is conducted for a nationwide telephone network with a personal computer installed in one place, the adverse influence (congestion problem) that the investigation personal computer has on the network can be greatly reduced. It can be suppressed to a level where there is no problem in practical use.
[0040]
Also, for a client who has a list of telephone numbers to be cleaned, the service provider records the survey list obtained by the survey method of the present invention on, for example, a CD-ROM, floppy disk or IC card and distributes it to the client Or by transferring it to the requester's computer by communication and comparing the search list with the existing phone number list on the requester's computer, thereby cleaning the phone number list. Therefore, even if there are a large number of clients, the telephone network can be subjected to the cleaning process any number of times based on the result of the investigation conducted once.
[0041]
Therefore, unlike the conventional method, it is not necessary to clean a large number of telephone number lists while continuing to make calls to the telephone network, and the telephone number survey may be performed periodically on a nationwide scale as described above. For example, if the survey is conducted once a month, the above-mentioned personal computer 1 can be used to survey the Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, and Iwate prefectures for one month. By doing so, even if the number of telephone numbers to be investigated is enormous, the investigation can be performed slowly over time, so that the congestion problem is completely at a problem-free level.
[0042]
=== Other Embodiment of Switch Overload Avoidance Processing ===
(A) In the “call pause” process of (d) above, if the reason indication of “reason number 34 available line / no channel” is detected only once, the call is not paused and the continuous detection is made. The number of times is counted by a counter, and when a reason display of << reason number 34 >> is detected continuously for a predetermined number of times (for example, five times) for continuous call processing, the call is paused.
[0043]
(B) Similarly, in (d), if << reason number 34 >> is detected five times in succession, the call is paused for 20 minutes and resumed, for example, once within 2 minutes. << Reason If number 34 >> is detected, the call is paused again for 20 minutes. Thereafter, if << reason number 34 >> is detected even once within 2 minutes after resuming the call, the call is paused for 40 minutes.
[0044]
(C) As in the above example, the condition for temporarily suspending the call in (d) is appropriately determined according to the actual operation. It is also desirable not to uniformly determine the conditions, but to program the conditions so as to change appropriately according to the time series of the occurrence dynamics of << reason number 34 >>.
[0045]
(D) Similarly, it is desirable not to uniformly determine the temporary suspension time for outgoing calls, but to program the temporary suspension time appropriately according to the timeline of the occurrence dynamics of << reason number 34 >>. This means that the present invention can be implemented even in the form of changing the time interval between calls, that is, the frequency of calls.
[0046]
(E) In addition to << reason number 34 >>, << reason number 41 temporary failure >> and << reason number 44 request line / channel unusable >> also apply as a reason display indicating a temporary overload state of network equipment. Therefore, even if (reason number 41) or << reason number 44 >> is used instead of << reason number 34 >> as the judgment criterion for the overload sign recognition process in the call suspension process of (d), << reason number 34 It is possible to obtain the same effect as that obtained by using “>>”.
Alternatively, when a “disconnect” message including any of these reason indications is returned, it is preferable to perform the same call pause processing because accuracy is improved.
[0047]
(F) As a reason for indicating that a serious failure has occurred in the network equipment, “reason number 38 network failure” is also applied in addition to “reason number 42 switch congestion”. Therefore, in the “calling stop alarm” process of (e) above, even if “reason number 38” is used as a judgment criterion instead of “reason number 42”, it is the same as when “reason number 42” is used as a judgment criterion. The effect of.
Alternatively, it is preferable to perform the call stop alarm process when a “disconnect” message including any of << reason number 38 >><< reason number 42 >> is returned, because accuracy is improved.
[0048]
(G) A reason display may also be attached to a “release” message or a “release complete” message delivered from the network to the calling terminal. Even when the above-mentioned reason reason 34, reason number 41, reason display 44, reason number 42, reason number 38, etc. are sent, the reason display of the “disconnect” message is displayed. If the processing described above is performed in the same manner as the case where the message is sent, the accuracy is preferably improved.
Of course, it goes without saying that other reason indications are the same.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a centralized automatic dialing that uses a computer connected to the ISDN to execute the next call processing according to the list of telephone numbers and to execute the processing according to the ISDN response to each call. The device can be operated with confidence without overloading the exchange.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of a personal computer system that executes a telephone number search method to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart (No. 1) showing an outline of a main part of an investigation process in the system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart (No. 2) showing an outline of a main part of an investigation process in the system.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a screen displayed in the switching apparatus overload avoidance process in the investigation device in the system;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 PC
2 CPU
3 memory
4 Hard disk devices
5 Floppy disk device
6 Display device
7 Keyboard
8 ISDN communication board
10 Line connection device

Claims (4)

A computer system comprising ISDN communication means, storage means, and control means for cleaning a telephone number list by centralized automatic dialing,
ISDN communication means enables communication as a calling terminal by connecting to ISDN,
The storage means stores a telephone number list and cleaning information,
The control means performs call processing, response classification processing, and call suppression processing,
The calling process is performed by the ISDN communication means according to the telephone number list in the storage means,
In response classification processing, ISDN communication means sequentially receives each response from ISDN for each call made by call processing, performs a disconnection recovery sequence, and based on the contents of each response, the validity / invalidity / Sort the changes, record the sorting results as cleaning information in the storage means,
In the call suppression process, when the first specific response from the ISDN is detected in the response classification process, this is recorded in the detection history, and the frequency of calls by the call process is stepwise based on the detection history. Reduced to
The first specific response is at least one message selected from a disconnect message, a release message, and a release completion message, and at least one reason number selected from among 34, 41, and 44 as a reason display Is a message with a computer system. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein in the call suppression process, when the call frequency is reduced, the output unit outputs an output for informing the call frequency reduction. The control means further performs call suspension processing,
The call cancellation process stops the call process when the second specific response from the ISDN is detected in the response classification process.
The second specific response is at least one message selected from a disconnect message, a release message, and a release completion message, and is a message with a reason number of at least one of 38 and 42 as a reason display. Item 3. The computer system according to Item 1 or 2. 4. The computer system according to claim 3, wherein in the call stop processing, when the call processing is stopped, the output means outputs an output for informing the call stop. 5.

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